Michael Dunn's artistic impression of Newtownabbey's council headquarters was revealed to members at a meeting on Monday night.
Judging by the general reaction to it in the council chamber however, it was evident that in their eyes the work - which carries a price tag of £2,700 - was no oil painting.
Councillors attending the meeting were under the impression they were there to recommend that a painting of the Mill be commissioned.
They were startled therefore to see that the artwork had already been completed and was being unveiled to them, which was suggestive of a done deal.
Councillor Janet Crilly demanded to know who had chosen this particular artist and why, and she asked whether they had had the authority of the council to go ahead with commissioning the work.
Councillor Crilly was informed that the council's 50th Anniversary Committee appointed Rodney Millar Associates as consultants to advise on effective promotion of the borough in this, its big year of celebrations.
Members heard it was the consultants who proposed a painting of Mossley Mill be commissioned as part of the council's commemorations of the milestone. According to them, the painting would be used for display at the Mill.
Furthermore, the artwork was to be the subject of a limited number of signed prints that would be framed and reserved as civic gifts. Prints were also to be made available for sale to the general public priced from £25 to £70 a piece.
Councillors were informed that the potential income from the exercise was expected to be £7,100, against an overall expenditure in the region of £6,200, which included the purchase of the painting, photography, prints and framing. This, it was claimed, would leave the council with a surplus income of £820.
Members however, did not appear taken with the painting and were curious as to whether any other artists were considered for the job.
Councillor Paula Bradley said she was a regular visitor to local galleries, and had recently purchased work by a big name Belfast artist that had not been as expensive as the one displayed. "I have never heard of this artist, and I am someone who visits galleries quite a bit," she commented.
Councillor Billy Webb meanwhile, said that when he heard a painting of the Mill was to be commissioned, he'd been keen to purchase a print of the borough's landmark building for himself. However, having seen the work in question, Mr Webb stated he would not be forking out £70 for the memento.
Concerns were also expressed that the 230 or so prints being mooted might go the same way as a book on the history of the borough had in recent years - with little interest being shown by the public in purchasing them at the price asked.
Members then established that the painting had not yet been purchased by the council.
The general consensus was that the artwork should not be bought until further information on how it came to be was received both from Rodney Millar Associates and the council's deputy chief executive, Hilary Brady.
The creator of the painting, Michael Dunn, has been working for over a decade as an artist and illustrator. He is the son of Newtownabbey Borough Council's chief executive Norman Dunn.